Rockies' Chad Bettis, cancer free, working to regain his velocity

Right-hander saw his fastball dip from 92.8 mph to 90.4 mph

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis is working to regain his fastball velocity before the start of spring training. (John Leyba / The Denver Post)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Life is sweetly normal for Chad Bettis.

When he's not busy chasing down Everleigh Rae, his energetic, 10-month-old daughter, he's building his strength and concentrating to regain his fastball velocity. This week, he's been dealing with starry-eyed fans at the Rockies' fantasy camp.

"I'm not sure if I'm a manager, or a coach, or a teacher, or what," he said with a laugh. "But it's a lot of fun."

The cancer that invaded his life last year has become a faint shadow.

"I don't think my mentality has ever been in a much better place than it is now," the veteran right-hander said. "That's because of everything we had to go through last year. So, from my standpoint, it will not get harder than that, for me. Knowing that I'm on the other side of that now, it helps my mentality."

On Nov. 21, 2016, at age 28. Bettis was diagnosed with testicular cancer, receiving the news on his first wedding anniversary. Bettis underwent surgery eight days later and thought he was cancer free. He reported to spring training in shape and eager for the 2017 season but during a check-up in March, doctors discovered that his cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. Bettis underwent nine weeks of chemotherapy, beginning treatment nine days before his wife, Kristina, gave birth to Everleigh Rae.

Bettis' received his final cancer treatment on May 16 and after a minor-league rehab stint, he made an emotional return to the mound on Aug. 14. He pitched seven scoreless innings against Atlanta and ended up making nine starts.

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In life's big picture, Bettis emerged a winner. He's off his medications and expects that blood tests in mid-March and a CT scan in May will confirm that he is cancer free.

That's allowed him to concentrate on baseball and embrace his role as the veteran in the Rockies' young starting rotation.

"There is a little bit of feeling like I'm 'just a baseball player again.' But I'm also coming back with a bit of a chip on my shoulder," he said. "I mean, I missed, essentially, a whole year. Some of those games went the way I wanted them to, and some didn't. It still feels like it's time for me to step up a little bit and take control and be a better pitcher."

Bettis finished 2017 with a 2-4 record and a 5.05 ERA over nine starts, with 30 strikeouts and 11 walks. He slumped in mid-September, but finished strong with a seven-inning start on Sept. 29 vs. the Dodgers, hurling seven innings, allowing one run on four hits and throwing a season-high 95 pitches.

The most disconcerting aspect of Bettis' season was a lack of zip on his fastball. He averaged 90.4 mph with his fastball, down from 92.8 mph in 2016 and considerably slower than his 94.2 mph average in 2013.

"When I finally made my debut last season, and then during those first couple of starts, it was really strange," he said. "Because I was using words like 'being connected,' and 'feeling strong in my core.' I did feel all that, I did feel strong.

"But the 'velo' wasn't necessarily there yet. It was something (that) was talked about internally, and we discussed ways to get that back up a bit. Toward the end of those starts, it was creeping back up."

In his final start vs. the Dodgers, Bettis' fastball averaged 92 mph and touched 94 on a few occasions.

"I look at last year as a growth opportunity, and a chance to get to know my body better," he said. "Now I know I have to prepare so that my fastball velocity doesn't dip down too low. When that happens, all (of my pitches) start to crunch down into one speed, and then I don't give hitters enough different looks."

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